7 Hospitalized in 35-Car Pileup on Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway

A chain-reaction crash on Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway involved 35 cars and sent seven individuals to the hospital with minor to severe injuries. The pileup crash, which occurred around 10:15 p.m. on the express lane, was finally cleared around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning. First responders were tasked with clearing the scene of the accident, which involved taxis, Uber vehicles, minivans, and even an Illinois State Police car.

Officials on the scene later confirmed that the crash was due to lake effect snow. One driver involved in the crash told the press that his car slid for around 100 yards after braking and could not stop. Many involved in the accident were left wondering why the express lanes were not closed.

Issuing travel advisories is well-intentioned, but authorities must know when to shut down roads that could be dangerous. When they fail to adequately warn citizens or close down roads, it could lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities.